Folding mirror and screen assembly

ABSTRACT

A folding mirror and screen assembly for use with projectors, viewers, or the like is disclosed which includes a mirror unit and screen pivotally mounted on a base means and a support arm pivotally connected to the mirror unit. Latch means are provided on the base means to latch the support arm in upright position when the assembly is in its viewing position. Means are also included to release the latch means so that the assembly may be folded into the closed position.

[ NOV. 28, 1972 United States Patent Robak 2,268,104 12/ 1941 Bentley3,479,116 11/1969 Anderson.... 3,375,054 3/1968 1 FOLDING IVIIRROR ANDSCREEN ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Edward Robak, Orange, Calif.

Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Richard L. MosesAttorney-Lyon & Lyon [73] Assignee: Technicolor, Inc., Hollywood, Calif.

[22] Filed:

May 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 143,446

ABSTRACT A folding mirror and screen assembly for use with proviewers,or the like is disclosed which includes a mirror 'unit and screenpivotally mounted on a base means and a support arm pivotally connectedto the mirror unit. Latch means are provided on the base means to latchthe support arm in upright position when the assembly is in its viewingposition. Means are also included to release the latch means so that theassembly may be folded into the closed position.

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sum 2 or 3 A TTOEA/GVS PATENTED l 28 I972 3.7 04 O 54 sum 3 [IF 3 4INVENTOR 4k //3 60144460 265/45 FOLDING MIRROR AND SCREEN ASSEMBLYBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates as indicated to afolding mirror and screen assembly of the type used with projectors,viewers or other apparatus for projecting and displaying images on aviewing surface.

In recent years, the use of projection apparatus in instructionalsituations, as for example, in class rooms, lecture rooms, exhibitionrooms, etc., has become quite popular. This is especially true since theintroduction of self-contained projection units, that is, unitscontaining within a single housing the projection, optical and screenmechanisms. In such self-contained units, the image is normallyprojected via a plurality of reflecting mirrors to a translucent screenwhich is also positioned within the unit.

To achieve maximum utility with the projection apparatus, it isdesirable to have a compact and portable unit. To provide this, it hasbeen proposed, as in the application of Hans Graafman, filedconcurrently herewith, entitled Remote Focusing Assembly, to retain theprojection apparatus within the lower portion of the case in which theprojector or viewer is contained with the screen positioned thereabove.The screen may thus be raised when the apparatus is used and readilyretracted when the projector is not in use. To provide such anarrangement of apparatus, however, it is necessary to provide means forraising and folding the screen to insure convenient and consistent Iperformance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Afolding mirror and screen assembly is provided in which a mirror unit ispivotally mounted on a base means and pivotally connected to a screenwhich is also pivotally mounted on the base means. A support arm ispivotally connected to the mirror unit to support the mirror unit andscreen and latch means are provided to latch the support arm in itsupright position when the assembly is in the viewing position. Means arealso included to release the latch means and permit the assembly to befolded into the closed position. A left and right segmented collapsiblelight shield is also provided to block light reflections during viewing.

upright position at the forward end of the assembly. Light shields 3 areprovided on the two sides of the assembly connected to the screen andbase means 4. The assembly is retained within a case 5 comprising abottom portion 6 and a lid section 7.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, the mirror and screen assembly, includesbase means 4, which is a cover plate for the projection mechanism aswill be described more fully, mounted within the bottom section 6 of thecase. A mirror unit 11 is pivotally connected to the base means as shownat 12 as to pivot from a flat position adjacent the surface of the basemeans when the assembly is in its folded closed position to an uprightposition as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 when the assembly is in the .viewingposition. A support arm 15 is pivotally The invention will be betterunderstood by referring A to the annexed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the assembly in the viewingposition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mirror and screen assembly with thescreen partially removed for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a side view partially in section showing the assembly in thefolded position;

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the mirror and screen assembly beingopened;

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the assembly in the viewing position;and

FIG. 6 is a detail view of the release and latch mechanisms.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, the mirror and screenassembly designated generally by numeral 1 is shown in the extended orviewing position. The assembly thus includes a screen 2 in a generallymounted on the mirror unit at 16 and 17 and is in operative contact withthe base means through horizontally extending portion 15a. A strap 18overlies portion 15a of the support arm to limit movement of the same,as will be more completely described.

The screen 2 is pivotally connected to the mirror unit at 19 and 20 byrods 21 and 22 which extend between the screen frame and the mirrorunit. The screen is pivotally connected to the base means at the forwardportion of the assembly as shown at 23.

The base means includes a latch mechanism to latch the support arm inupright position when the assembly is in its viewing position as shownin FIGS. 1, 2 and S. The latch means include stop means in the form ofprong-shaped members 25 and 26 which are mounted on the upper surface ofthe base means and prevent over-travel of the support arm when themirror and screen assembly is opened and raised to the upright, viewingposition. The latch mechanism also includes recesses 27 and 28 in thebase means in which the support arm fits firmly when the assembly is inthe viewing position. The recesses are of greater depth adjacent thestop means, tapering gradually to a lesser depth at the front thereof,as shown in FIG. 6, to facilitate release of the support arm from therecesses.

The assembly also includes means to release the latch mechanism, so thatthe assembly may be folded into the closed position shown in FIG. 3. Therelease means includes lift springs 30 and 31 which are mounted on thesurface of the base means 4. The springs are in contact with the supportarm 15, underlying the same as illustrated and are also in contact witha release arm 32 which is also mounted on the base means and extendsacross the surface therof underlying the springs. The release armextends through the slot 33 in the base means and is connected to ahandle 34. The base means has a horizontally extending groove 35 in itsupper surface in which the release arm is positioned. The release armalso includes ofiset members 36 and 37, which are also raised somewhat(see FIG. 6), underneath the lift springs to facilitate lifting of thesprings when the release arm is rotated.

A strap 40 is connected to the rear side of the mirror unit and to theinterior of the case housing lid section to facilitate unfolding of theassembly. A spring 45 is also preferably included, attached to mirror11, to facilitate proper positioning of the mirror and screen when theassembly is unfolded. Since the cover is attached directly to the mirrorunit, to lift the assembly to the viewing position, it is only necessaryto unlatch the case and raise the cover in the normal manner. Thiscauses the mirror unit to be raised from its folded position and sincethe mirror unit is connected through the linkage arms, 21 and 22 to thescreen and is also connected to the support arm 15, the screen willpivot at 23 into the upright position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5. Whenin the viewing position, the lower edge portions 41 and 42 of thesupport arm thus are secured underneath the stop or prong members 25 and26 and firmly retained within the recesses 27 and 28. The stop meansalso prevent the support arm 15 from travelling father than intended asthe arm is moved across the surface of the base means.

To release the latch mechanism and fold the assembly into the closedposition, one need only move handle 34 in slot 33, which causes therelease arm 32 to rotate and raise lift springs 30 and 31 by contactbetween offset members 36 and 37 of the release arm and the liftsprings. When the springs are raised, they contact the horizontalportion 15a of the support arm and cause the edge 41 and 42 to be movedout of recesses 27 and 28 in the base means, as shown in phantom linesin FIG. 6. The assembly will then fold to the closed position naturallydue to the weight of the cover and mirror unit. The strap member 18prevents the support arm from being moved out of the proper position onthe surface of the base means when the assembly is closing and alsoserves to guide the support arm into the proper position when theassembly is opened and raised to the viewing position.

With regard to the projection apparatus, which would be retained withinthe base means 4 to project the images from a film to the mirror andscreen units illustrated and described herein, reference may be made toapplication Serial No. 143,447, filed May 14, 1971 entitled RemoteFocusing Assembly, filed concurrently herewith, in the name of HansGraafman, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, whichillustrates and describes that portion of the optical assembly which maybe utilized in this invention. Accordingly, the disclosure of suchapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

Segements 70 and 71 in FIG. 5 fold at line 72 and the fold is alwaysslightly inclined inward. The same is true of segements 73 and 74 andfold line 75. Fold line 76 is inclined outwardly so that the foursegments can fold compactly without interfering with closure of theunit.

It will thus be appreciated from the foregoing description that acompact and efficient mirror and screen assembly has been provided whichis capable of achieving convenient and consistent performance inpositioning accurately the mirror and screen units of the assembly forsatisfactory projection of the images for viewing.

lclaim:

l. A folding mirror and screen assembly for projectors and the likecomprising a base means, a mirror unit pivotally mounted on said basemeans, a screen pivotally connected to said mirror unit and to said basemeans, a support arm pivotally connected to said mirror unit inoperative position adjacent the surface of said base means, latch meansmounted on said base means to latch said support arm in upright positionwhen said assembly is in the viewing position, and means to release saidlatch means, whereby said assembly may be folded into its closedposition.

2. The mirror and screen assembly of claim 1 in which said assembly isretained within a case and includes means connecting said mirror unit tothe interior of the homing of said case.

3. The assembly of claim 2 in which stop means are mounted on said basemeans to prevent over-travel of said support arm across the surface ofsaid base means.

4. The assembly of claim 2 in which said release means include liftsprings mounted on said base means adapted to have contact with saidsupport arm when said assembly is in the viewing position, and a releasearm mounted on said base means adjacent said lift springs, wherebyrotation of said release arm lifts said springs and support arm andreleases said support arm from said latch means.

5. The assembly of claim 4 in which said release arm includes means tofacilitate lifting said lift springs.

6. The assembly of claim 2 in which said latch means includes a recessin said base means and said support arm is retained in said recess whensaid assembly is in the viewing position.

7. The assembly of claim 6 in which stop means are mounted on said basemeans to prevent over-travel of said support arm, and said recessextends outwardly from and decreases gradually in depth from said stopmeans to facilitate the release of said support arm from said recess.

8. The assembly of claim 2 including a light shield enclosing saidscreen and mirror unit.

9. The assembly of claim 2 including means mounted on said base meansoverlying said support arm to limit movement of the same across thesurface of said base means.

10. A folding mirror and screen assembly for projectors or the likecomprising a base means, a mirror unit pivotally connected to said basemeans, a screen pivotally connected to said mirror assembly and to saidbase means, a support arm pivotally connected to said mirror unit inoperative position adjacent the surface of said base means, latch meansmounted on said base means to latch said support arm in the uprightposition when said assembly is in the viewing position, said latch meansincluding a recess in said base means in which said support arm fitswhen in the upright position, means to release said latch means, wherebysaid as sembly may be folded into a closed position, said release meansincluding lift springs mounted on said base means adapted to be incontact with the underside of said support arm when said assembly in theviewing position and a release arm mounted on said base means adjacentsaid lift springs adapted for rotatable movement about the surface ofsaid base means, whereby rotation of said release arm lifts said springsand support arm and releases said support arm from said latch means, andsaid mirror and screen assembly retained within a case and includingmeans connecting said mirror unit to the interior of the housing of saidcase.

11. The assembly of claim 10 in which said support arm is a continuousrod pivotally connected to said mirror unit at the sides thereof with aportion substantially centrally of the length thereof adjacent thesurface of said base means to provide support for said assembly.

12. The assembly of claim 11 in which said release arm includes means tofacilitate lifting said lift springs.

'13. The assembly of claim 11 in which said release arm includes ahandle extending through said base means at one side thereof tofacilitate rotation of said release arm and release of said support armfrom said latch means.

14. The assembly of claim 12 in which said release arm extends acrosssaid base means and is retained in a 5 groove in the surface of saidbase means.

1. A folding mirror and screen assembly for projectors and the likecomprising a base means, a mirror unit pivotally mounted on said basemeans, a screen pivotally connected to said mirror unit and to said basemeans, a support arm pivotally connected to said mirror unit inoperative position adjacent the surface of said base means, latch meansmounted on said base means to latch said support arm in upright positionwhen said assembly is in the viewing position, and means to release saidlatch means, whereby said assembly may be folded into its closedposition.
 2. The mirror and screen assembly of claim 1 in which saidassembly is retained within a case and includes means connecting saidmirror unit to the interior of the housing of said case.
 3. The assemblyof claim 2 in which stop means are mounted on said base means to preventover-travel of said support arm across the surface of said base means.4. The assembly of claim 2 in which said release means include liftsprings mounted on said base means adapted to have contact with saidsupport arm when said assembly is in the viewing position, and a releasearm mounted on said base means adjacent said lift springs, wherebyrotation of said release arm lifts said springs and support arm andreleases said support arm from said latch means.
 5. The assembly ofclaim 4 in which said release arm includes means to facilitate liftingsaid lift springs.
 6. The assembly of claim 2 in which said latch meansincludes a recess in said base means and said support arm is retained insaid recess when said assembly is in the viewing position.
 7. Theassembly of claim 6 in which stop means arE mounted on said base meansto prevent over-travel of said support arm, and said recess extendsoutwardly from and decreases gradually in depth from said stop means tofacilitate the release of said support arm from said recess.
 8. Theassembly of claim 2 including a light shield enclosing said screen andmirror unit.
 9. The assembly of claim 2 including means mounted on saidbase means overlying said support arm to limit movement of the sameacross the surface of said base means.
 10. A folding mirror and screenassembly for projectors or the like comprising a base means, a mirrorunit pivotally connected to said base means, a screen pivotallyconnected to said mirror assembly and to said base means, a support armpivotally connected to said mirror unit in operative position adjacentthe surface of said base means, latch means mounted on said base meansto latch said support arm in the upright position when said assembly isin the viewing position, said latch means including a recess in saidbase means in which said support arm fits when in the upright position,means to release said latch means, whereby said assembly may be foldedinto a closed position, said release means including lift springsmounted on said base means adapted to be in contact with the undersideof said support arm when said assembly in the viewing position and arelease arm mounted on said base means adjacent said lift springsadapted for rotatable movement about the surface of said base means,whereby rotation of said release arm lifts said springs and support armand releases said support arm from said latch means, and said mirror andscreen assembly retained within a case and including means connectingsaid mirror unit to the interior of the housing of said case.
 11. Theassembly of claim 10 in which said support arm is a continuous rodpivotally connected to said mirror unit at the sides thereof with aportion substantially centrally of the length thereof adjacent thesurface of said base means to provide support for said assembly.
 12. Theassembly of claim 11 in which said release arm includes means tofacilitate lifting said lift springs.
 13. The assembly of claim 11 inwhich said release arm includes a handle extending through said basemeans at one side thereof to facilitate rotation of said release arm andrelease of said support arm from said latch means.
 14. The assembly ofclaim 12 in which said release arm extends across said base means and isretained in a groove in the surface of said base means.